Bulk File Download from SharePoint using a Custom Button in Dynamics 365 (Dataverse)

In many Dynamics 365 / Dataverse projects, users store documents in SharePoint document locations and later need a simple, user-friendly way to download one or multiple files directly from the CRM UI.

Out of the box, Dynamics does not provide an elegant solution to: – Select multiple records – Click a custom button – Download the related SharePoint files in one go

This blog explains a real-world production-ready solution using:

• A custom ribbon button/command bar button
• JavaScript (Web Resource)
• A Custom Action + Plugin
• Microsoft Graph API to fetch files from SharePoint

High-Level Architecture

Business Requirement

• User selects one or multiple records (files)
• Clicks Download Files button
• System downloads files stored in SharePoint
• No Power Automate
• No external tools
• Works directly inside the browser

Step 1: Custom Button (Command Bar)

A custom button is added to the grid or subgrid using: – Ribbon Workbench or – Modern Command Designer

The button passes the selected record IDs to JavaScript.

Step 2: JavaScript – Handling the Button Click

The JavaScript web resource performs the following tasks:

• Reads selected record IDs
• Shows a progress indicator
• Calls a Dataverse Custom Action for each record
• Receives SharePoint download URLs
• Triggers browser downloads

Key JavaScript Function

async function downloadItem(selectedControlItemIds) {
    var Xrm = window.parent.Xrm;
    var recordId = Xrm.Page.data.entity.getId()

    const total = selectedControlItemIds.length;
    for (const [index, itemId] of selectedControlItemIds.entries()) {
        let current = index + 1;
        Xrm.Utility.showProgressIndicator(`Downloading file ${current}/${total}`);

        // Call Custom Action
        let downloadUrls = await callDownloadAction(itemId, recordId);

        if (downloadUrls) {
            if (Array.isArray(downloadUrls)) {
                for (const url of downloadUrls) {
                    triggerDownload(url);
                }
            } else {
                triggerDownload(downloadUrls);
            }
        }

        if (current === total) {
            Xrm.Utility.closeProgressIndicator();
        }
    }
}

Download Helper

function triggerDownload(url) {
    var anchor = document.createElement(“a”);
    anchor.href = url;
    anchor.download = “”;
    document.body.appendChild(anchor);
    anchor.click();
    document.body.removeChild(anchor);
}

Calling the Dataverse Custom Action

function callDownloadAction(itemId, recordId) {
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
        var parameters = {
            FolderName: recordId,
            RecordID: itemId
        };

        var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
        var apiUrl = Xrm.Utility.getGlobalContext().getClientUrl()
            + “/api/data/v9.2/omac_DownloadFileFormSharpoint”;

        req.open(“POST”, apiUrl, true);
        req.setRequestHeader(“Content-Type”, “application/json; charset=utf-8”);
        req.setRequestHeader(“Accept”, “application/json”);

        req.onreadystatechange = function () {
            if (req.readyState === 4) {
                if (req.status === 200 || req.status === 204) {
                    var result = JSON.parse(req.responseText);
                    resolve(result[“DownloadablURL”]);
                } else {
                    reject(req.responseText);
                }
            }
        };

        req.send(JSON.stringify(parameters));
    });
}

Step 3: Custom Action (Dataverse)

A Custom Action is created with:

Input Parameters

• FolderName (string) → Parent record GUID
• RecordID (string) → Selected file record ID

Output Parameters

• DownloadablURL (string)
• FileName (string)

The action is executed by JavaScript and handled by a plugin.

Step 4: Plugin – Fetching Files from SharePoint

The plugin performs the heavy lifting:

• Resolves SharePoint document location
• Uses Microsoft Graph API
• Finds the correct file
• Generates a secure download URL

Plugin Core Logic (Simplified)

string FolderName = (string)context.InputParameters[“FolderName”];
string RecordID = (string)context.InputParameters[“RecordID”];

FolderName = CRMServicesObj.GetDocumentLocationRelativeUrl(service, FolderName);

Get SharePoint Folder via Graph API

var driveResponseJson = GraphApiService
    .GetDriveItemAsync(FolderName, tenant, tracingService)
    .GetAwaiter().GetResult();

Fetch Files & Generate Download URL

var (url, fileName) = GraphApiService
    .GetMicrosoftGraphDownloadUrl(driveResponseJson, RecordID);

context.OutputParameters[“DownloadablURL”] = url;
context.OutputParameters[“FileName”] = fileName;

Why Microsoft Graph API?

• Secure
• Modern authentication (Azure AD)
• Works with SharePoint Online
• No legacy SharePoint SOAP APIs

Benefits of This Approach

✔ Works entirely inside Dynamics 365

✔ Supports single & multiple file downloads

✔ No Power Automate licensing cost

✔ Clean UI experience

✔ Browser-safe sequential downloads

✔ Reusable across entities

Final Thoughts

This pattern is extremely useful when: – Files are stored in SharePoint – Users want a one-click download experience – Performance and UX matter

With a small amount of JavaScript and a well-designed plugin, you can deliver a powerful enterprise-grade solution fully integrated with Dynamics 365.

Read more : dynamics 365 document management made simple

FAQ’s